John Huff/Staff photographer
Andy Allen, Mike Allen and Jaclyn Cote stand by a new flashing crosswalk sign installed by Dover Public Works at the railroad tracks at Chestnut and Third streets designed to make the crossing safer for pedestrians.

DOVER — Cathy Allen, a woman who was struck and killed by a motor vehicle near Chestnut and Third Streets more than six years ago, would have celebrated her 62nd birthday last Friday, just one day after the first of the two midblock crosswalk signs were installed at the site of her death.

“Things like that happen,” Andy Allen, Cathy's son, said. “It's just weird. Certain days that mean something, whether it be her birthday or my parents' anniversary or the anniversary of her death. It's just like little things like that happen. I think it is significant and I think she, somehow, had a part in doing it.”

Andy said his mother would have been thrilled to see the yellow signs with solar powered flashing lights go up near St. Mary's Church.

"Her biggest hopes would be that it would prevent accidents from happening, regardless if someone's life was taken, it is people being hit,” Andy said.

Andy was referring to Jaclyn Cote when referencing other people being hit, who stood beside him on Tuesday alongside the crosswalk at Chestnut and Third streets, admiring the second of the two midblock crosswalk signs that had been installed earlier in the day.

Click image to enlarge

John Huff/Staff photographer
Dover Public Works Jon McClendon, left, and Mike Wilson being to install a new flashing side walk crossing sign at the railroad tracks along Chestnut Street Tuesday.

Cote was hit by a car crossing the road at Chestnut and Third streets last summer and spent several weeks in physical therapy after suffering a number of injuries. After recovering, she began a petition to bring awareness to the crosswalk and to bring attention to the idea of a pedestrian push button at the crosswalk.

“It isn't a push button,” Cote said of the midblock crosswalk sign. “But the city said they were going to have a local engineer look into it and that is a good start.”

The push button, according to Cote, would force people to stop and get them into the habit of slowing down.

“And it would be effective if the speed limit is reduced,” she said. “People really do fly down this road.”

Cote said she had no idea how much awareness the petition would bring to not just the crosswalk where she and Cathy were hit, but to other crosswalks around the City.

“The city was extremely responsive and prompt about everything,” she said. “My city councilor (Edward Spuler) kept me in the loop about every thing every little step of the way. It's been great.”

The midblock crosswalk signs were installed with the goal of slowing down drivers.

“I think people who are unaware that there is a crosswalk here are going to say, 'Hey, there is a light here and I need to slow down,'” Andy said. “It doesn't mean everyone is going to slow down, but it's a start.”

Michael said he is hopeful that the signs will improve pedestrian safety.

“I don't know if it is a final solution, but it is a step in the right direction without a doubt,” he said. “I saw it, maybe I was looking for it, but with all that flashing, I noticed it right away.”

Between the hill on Chestnut Street, the railroad track and the traffic, the intersection can be confusing, especially for out-of-town drivers.

“If you aren't from the area, the hardest part coming up that street is that you don't know what is coming up,” Michael said, adding that Dover has become a busier city over the years and drivers and pedestrians need to follow the rules.

Despite the addition of the signs, Cote said she is still unable to use the crosswalk where she was hit.

“I'm just not ready,” she said. “I'm still not quite sure I want to use it. I mean, even though I know the sign is up and it's daylight, it was daylight when I was hit. I think it is still just too recent for me.”

Cote is hopeful she will use it again someday, and credits Dover for being such a walkable city.

“I'm not from Dover, but I've lived here a couple of years and the one thing I love about Dover is that you can walk anywhere,” she said. “Even though this happened, it doesn't change my mind about Dover and I still want to walk and I still want to go downtown.”